How often do you wash your mixed race child's hair

[astressedoutmum1011]

Hello,
I have a pretty good hair routine for my son. And found products which work for his 3b hair but I don't know how often to wash it. At the moment I wash it every sort of 4th day and it looks dry by the 4th day even with leave in conditioner and coconut oil every day and not sure whether I should be washing more or less

Hi! I do a full wash (shampoo and conditioner) once a week. Every second day I rinse it under the shower and apply leave in and aunt Jackie's 😊. I used to be afraid of wetting his hair so often but its actually a lot healthier now!

Sometimes I just co-wash(Conditioner wash) my daughters hair every other wash try to leave in hair oil overnight and she wears a cap overnight to stop it getting matted

My daughter is 14 months with 3c hair. I wash it once a week with a co wash cleanser. I actually used to moisturize her hair with oil but stopped because strangely enough whatever oil I used actually dried out her hair. Her hair is doing so much better now. Wash once a week. I dampen it every morning and put just a bit of Mielle hair milk and we’re good!

@SkinnyNorris have you tried almond oil?

I have. That was what I was using on her hair, also jojoba. I couldn’t understand why her hair would look dry hours after no matter of I used Loc or Lco method. Once si decided to experiment and skip the oil, her hair started to look so much better. If it needs extra moisture I use hair butter as a replacement for oil.

Good tips

OP the purpose of the oil and other products is to lock in the moisture already on his hair. So if the hair is too dry when you apply the products you aren't locking anything in.

Wet his hair daily before applying the products either using a spray bottle or under the shower.

You will need to experiment as depending on the weather and his hair different things will work best at different times. So in the spray bottle you may find a small amount of conditioner mixed in with the water in a spray bottle works while other times you may just want water. Again if you are putting under the shower simple wetting may work or applying conditioner then rinsing out may work better.

Also as a PP indicated oils may not work at all for people regardless of hair type. Two of my SILs and my daughter have 3b hair but only one of them can use oils. This is why on hair forums people state the thickness, density and porosity of their hair as generally fine haired people have to avoid oils/use them sparingly regardless of hair type.

My 2 kids have different types of curly hair. Eldest has very thick full fro and her hair i wash once a week, maybe even once every 10-14 days, using a sulphate and silicone free shampoo.
Inbetween that time, i'll spritz her hair with a bit of water and aloe vera mixture i make myself. Then gently pat in unrefined Shea butter, like almost a tablespoon amount every few days - while her hair is still damp (it needs to be damp to absorb and dry itself locking in moisure). Occasionally also adding Jojoba or coconut or argan or caster oil whatever i have nearby to also add in on the other days. You'll need to try and test what suits your kid with small bottles first.

Youngest child has small spirals and very fine hair (like mine). Which i also wash once a week. and only add a bit of jojoba oil at the mid to end sections only once maybe twice a week. Our hair is much lighter and needs a lot less.

Curly hair, i imagine you've researched, needs a lot more moisture. And loads more effort annoyingly. Which is why coating (not dripping obv) in natural butters and oils and trying protective styles help my babes hair
Good luck :)

Hi, I am sorry if this sounds naive. I am a white mum to a mixed race son. His dad was black/jamaican and is not in our lives at all. While pregnant I thought it's ok I can ask him all the questions I have but now he has gone i feel a little bit lost.
Hair is just the start of my questions .. how do i know what is best for his texture hair. Its curly and quite tight not too long. He is 18 months old. I was washing it every other day. I bought a shea butter leave in conditioner. Should I use this often? I am starting to feel a bit lost. Anyone who can reach out with advice I would appreciate it. Thank you x

@JOS1984 it is always best to start a new thread rather than post a question on an existing one.

To answer your questions:

1. You are over washing try every 3-4th day and if still too dry go down to once a week.
2. At 18 months he can go to a barber or hairdresser. I don't know how his hair is due to your lack of description but look for a barber/hairdresser who does afro hair. (It would have been easier before lockdown as you just look at their cistomers.) A barber would probably be easier to find. The barber will tell you if s/he can cut it. Hairdressers are more troublesome and don't directly tell you so they tend to come up with a bullshit excuse of why they can't do your hair. Boys and men with hair that is more afro textured need to go to a barber/hairdresser who has a lots of different attachments to ensure they get their edges neat.
3. Any hair products should generally be applied on damp hair for best effect and it needs to be done daily. You will need to experiment to see what suits your son.
4. Most black men and boys tend to have short hair because it is easier to deal with. My mixed ethnicity nephews and friends also follow this until they are in secondary school and completely responsible for doing their own hair.

@JOS1984

Hi, I am sorry if this sounds naive. I am a white mum to a mixed race son. His dad was black/jamaican and is not in our lives at all. While pregnant I thought it's ok I can ask him all the questions I have but now he has gone i feel a little bit lost. Hair is just the start of my questions .. how do i know what is best for his texture hair. Its curly and quite tight not too long. He is 18 months old. I was washing it every other day. I bought a shea butter leave in conditioner. Should I use this often? I am starting to feel a bit lost. Anyone who can reach out with advice I would appreciate it. Thank you x

I think your washing his hair too often. Although when babies are small I know it’s hard as they get clammy and it may need washing. You probably need to find a black shop and look at products like Cantu they do all sorts from Shampoo to leave in hair conditioners. I used African pride on my DS hair only after I have washed it. Buy an Afro comb. Don’t use a normal comb.

Take him to a black barbers it’s a must. YouTube will give you a good understanding too. Ask friends if you have any with Afro hair.